Kingston WritersFest —
The Next Chapter
Expanding on the initial work of a core of women within our partners Kingston Frontenac Public Library, Kingston Literacy, and Indigo Books, WritersFest found a new home at the Holiday Inn Kingston Waterfront and officially launched in September 2009, with over thirty events across all genres. Margaret Atwood opened the Fest with a spectacular local production of The Year of the Flood—“The best anywhere!” she says.
Kingston WritersFest soon developed outreach programs that have impacted thousands of local children and youth, and writers at all stages of their careers: Festival Field Trips for high-school students, Authors@School for elementary students, and annual workshop series on the art, craft, and business of writing.
Over sixteen years, under artistic directors Merilyn Simonds, Barbara Bell, and most recently, Aara Macauley, Kingston WritersFest became known as one of the best festivals in the country. Featuring authors from around the world, across the country, and down the street, the Festival established a stellar reputation for unique programming and an intimate, inclusive atmosphere within which this community of readers and writers has thrived. At its peak, KWF attracted a stable audience of 6,000.
Thanks to the support of this wide-ranging community of book lovers, Kingston WritersFest is once again offering a provocative, stimulating readers’ and writers’ festival—a forum where ideas are discussed openly, where people of all ages, backgrounds, and interests come together for conversation, inspiration, insight, and delight.